Saint Andrew’s Student Creates Safe Space for Political Discussions Among Peers

Erick Milman’s ’27 may not be able to vote in this year’s general election, but he does have a passion for discussing politics. 

His interest in discussing politics began through conversations with his father, where he found that respectful disagreement was the norm. Erick wanted to start having these conversations with his peers so he decided to start his own club called The Independents. 

Founded this year, the club provides students with a nonpartisan space to explore and discuss political issues and gain a better understanding of their own beliefs.

“The purpose of The Independents is to encourage students to think for themselves when it comes to politics,” Milman explains. “Often, you hear students saying they’d support a particular candidate, but when you ask them why, they can’t always explain. This club is about understanding where candidates stand and promoting a more informed, bipartisan approach.”

The Independents' meetings alternate weekly between informational sessions and debates on topics like abortion, gun control, and immigration. The friendly dynamic among club members has fostered respectful debate. 

“We’re all friends, so it’s like having a friendly argument,” Milman explains, making even controversial issues easier to talk about.

As the club moderator, Milman works hard to remain neutral, although he admits that he occasionally finds it challenging not to jump into the debates himself. 

“I try to stay neutral as the club president,” he laughs, “but when you’re passionate about politics, sometimes it’s tough to stay out of it.”

Every club at Saint Andrew’s has at least one faculty advisor. Erick knew exactly who he wanted for his club’s faculty advisor – The Rev. Dr. Benjamin Anthony. 

“I respect him a lot as a person... he definitely encouraged me to do something about my opinion about people not being knowledgeable and I would give the credit to him specifically for helping me get this (The Independents) all together. He’s the one who advocated that this (club) should be a thing and I credit him a lot for the club’s existence.”

When asked about Erick and The Independents, Father Ben spoke about the importance of this initiative on campus. “The Independents club creates a much-needed nonpartisan space at Saint Andrew’s for students to discuss politics. Erick’s leadership is exactly the kind of engagement every SA student should aspire to—and which the world needs.”

Despite the election’s upcoming conclusion, Erick envisions continued engagement through discussions on the policies of elected leaders at the state and local levels. 

“Ultimately, I want students to leave this club with a deeper understanding of what they believe in and why,” Milman says. “At some point, everyone needs to be able to articulate their political stance, and I want to help my peers reach that point.”

If you would like to join The Independents you can stop by the Parker Library on Wednesday mornings starting at 7:45 am.